Food Preparation Worker salary in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Food Preparation Workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median of $30,740 a year ($14.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,110 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is about the same as the Texas statewide median of $30,650. There are 5.4 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,320 | $11.69 |
| 25th percentile | $27,910 | $13.42 |
| Median | $30,740 | $14.78 |
| 75th percentile | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| Average (mean) | $32,960 | $15.85 |
Half of food preparation workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,561.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,280.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,182.31 |
| Weekly | $591.15 |
| Hourly | $14.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,740 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | 580 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35,020 | 16,240 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,880 | 9,350 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $34,390 | 7,910 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $34,380 | 1,680 |
| Midland, TX | $33,200 | 500 |
| Odessa, TX | $30,550 | 470 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $30,300 | 910 |
| Amarillo, TX | $29,160 | 770 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $28,700 | 880 |
| Waco, TX | $28,690 | 940 |
| San Angelo, TX | $28,640 | 340 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $28,620 | 290 |
| Lubbock, TX | $28,550 | 1,140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $28,430 | 1,810 |
| Abilene, TX | $28,250 | 410 |
| Tyler, TX | $28,150 | 730 |
| Laredo, TX | $27,780 | 700 |
| Victoria, TX | $27,680 | 230 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $27,390 | 90 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $27,290 | 310 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $26,960 | 1,750 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $26,180 | 1,390 |
| Longview, TX | $26,150 | 700 |
| El Paso, TX | $25,810 | 2,220 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,490 | $17.54 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,370 | $17.96 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $25,320 | $12.18 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,070 | $13.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $24,160 | $11.61 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,050 | $10.12 |
| Bartender | $24,170 | $11.62 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| Dishwasher | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,160 | $14.98 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $64,100 | $30.82 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $30,740 a year, or $14.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn at least $44,110 a year. The top 25% earn $37,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,320 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $27,910 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
About 21,700 food preparation workers are employed in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.